Metal can and means and method of opening the same



y 1929. A. K. JOHNSON 1.719.295

METAL CAN AND MEANS AND METHOD OF OPENING THE SAME Filed Jan. 21, 1924' gmenfoz Ava/5705 K JOHNSON,

Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES ATEN OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS x. JOHNSON, or salt DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, assrcivonjro A. B, nownan',

i or SAN DIEGO, oA LIFonNIAQ METAL CAN Anni/Imus Ann-Mnrnon or ornivrne THE sAME.

Application filed January 21, 1924. Serial No.687,45 i.

My invention relates to cansandmeans and method for opening said cans, more particularlyto hermetically sealedcans for preserving foods and thelike, and the objects of my invention arei first, to provide hermetically sealed cans with means wherebysaid cans may be readily opened at "anytime, which means is attached to the cans andmade a part thereof; second, toprovide a special can with grooves formed in the walls thereof to facilitate the opening of said can; third, to provide a can with grooves properly positione'd therein adapted to cooperate with a shearing device for shearing the can to remove the top; fourth, to provide a can cutting or shearing means secured to a can; fifth, to provide a novel can cutting and shearing means; sixth, to provide a novel can opener; seventh, to provide a novel method of opening cans, and eighth, to provide a novel means and method of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, durable, easy to operate, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention con sists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions and the certain method of opening cans, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my opener shown in operative position in connection with the contour of the can, shown diagrammatically, and showing by dotted lines varying positions of the can relatively to the opener in varying operating positions; Fig. 2 is an edge view of the opener; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a can and my opener in operative position therein, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a can, showing my can shearing means secured in position on the top of the can, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the side of a can, showing the notches therein for slightly weakening the can and as a guide for the opener and showing by dotted lines the way the can side is deflected outwardly by the opening operation.

Like characters of reference refer to similarrparts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

' My can opening member consists of a piece of wire approximately one-eighth of an inch in diameter composed of the proper material and formed into aloop 1 at one end, adapted for the finger of an individuahthen formed into a straightor slightly curved portion 2,

then bent on a gradual curve 3 and provided on one side ofthis curved portion with a loop or knurled surface 3, then extending straight a short distance 4, then bent balckwardly, and extending parallel with the portion 4 is a flattened portion 5, which extends backwardly forming a long, narrow space between the portions 4 and 5, the portion 5 being sharp on the inner edge 5, forming a cutting or shearing surface. The extended end is provided with an outwardly curved point 6. The can 7 is provided in the side with a plurality of grooves, preferably three, the one '7 in the outer surface and the grooves 7 in the inner surface and spaced relatively to each other. These grooves form a slightly weakened portion of the can and provide for the easy shearing or rupturing of the can with the opener, the can giving way as shown best by dotted lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The groove 7 is provided at a point near the can seam with an enlarged weakened portion 7, which is adapted to facilitate the easy insertion of the point 6 of the opener through the side of the can and marks the point where the opening operation should be started. This opening member is secured on the top of the can by soldering, spot weldingor secured with shellac or any other adhesive element to cause the device to adhere to the top of the can.

The operation of opening a can is as follows: The opening device is forced loose from the can. Then the point'6 is forced through the side of the can at the point 7 in the groove 7, either by steady pressure or by a stroke at the point 5", so that the pointpasses through the side of the can. Then the opener is forced into the can until the portion 5 engages the ruptured edge of the can. Then the handle formed by the loop 1 is drawn inwardly, the rough portion 3 engaging the side of the can, and the portion 5 shears or ruptures the can surface nearly to the point 6. Then the opener is again moved into the can until the ruptured edge engages the member 5, and then the operation takes place the same as described before, so that the can is sheared or ruptured near thetop around the upper edge to the seam, and the top is then bent over at the seam or may be removed by bending back and forth until rupturedat the seam.

It will be here noted that this opening member may be forcibly drawn around the can in the position shown i'n Fig. 1 of the drawings and sever the can with its continuous movement, but will require more force to draw the same around the can than by operating it inwardly and outwardly as hereinbe- V fore described.

Though I have shown and described a particular construetlon, combination and arrangement of parts and portions and a certain-method of opening cans, I do not wish vto be limited-to this particular construction, combination and arrangement nor to the method described, but desire to include in the scopeof my invention the construction, combination and arrangement or the method subof the body of said can, and another weakening groove intermediate said grooves in the outer surface of said can body.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California, this 12th day of January, 1924:.

AUGUSTUS K. JOHNSON. 

